None of the moves were surprises, though Rendon and Purke made nice impressions during their brief stints in big-league camp only nine months after each was drafted out of college.

Rendon, the sixth overall pick in the draft, went 3-for-13 with three doubles and an RBI in eight Grapefruit League games. The former Rice third baseman also saw game action at shortstop and worked with manager Davey Johnson at second base as the organization tries toRead more »

I take it that Rendon, Purke, and Rivero had to be optioned because they are on the 40-man roster while the others aren't. But does the choice of where to option them dictate where they will open the season, or could they end up in Harrisburg when the season starts?

Section 222 said… I take it that Rendon, Purke, and Rivero had to be optioned because they are on the 40-man roster while the others aren't. But does the choice of where to option them dictate where they will open the season, or could they end up in Harrisburg when the season starts?_________________________________________Sounds to me like they are skipping over Low A and starting the season in High A.

Brown is on a minor league contract. He cleared waivers when we took him off the 40 man roster and we have him for the year. Not sure how it works if we need him on the big club. Obviously we then have to put him on our 40 man/25 man and I am guessing he will still not have options at that time. I am also just a little upset he was cut but its all about making decisions on who you are bringing north and I guess it was decided early that he was not in that mix. Someone else compared it to a 15 upsetting a 2 and that is just about right. Still think he can help us.

But does the choice of where to option them dictate where they will open the season, or could they end up in Harrisburg when the season starts?It works just like little league … you get moved to the team appropriate to your skill level.Brown is going to Syracuse as are the veterans on the reassignment list. He's reached AAA level.Rendon and Purke are just starting their minor league careers. Placing them Potomac is a promotion. Perhaps joined by Brian Goodwin. The Nats may not have an offense but Woodbridge sure specs out to have a doozy.

I am also just a little upset he was cut but its all about making decisions on who you are bringing north and I guess it was decided early that he was not in that mix.Actually, for Brown its a good thing apparently because here's what Dave had to say:#acomack Davey was extremely complimentary of Corey Brown. Said if he keeps doing the things he's capable of "we don't have to look for a CF.Johnson is known for speaking his mind. It seems to mean Brown **IS** the starting CF in Syracuse and he will be one of the first recalled if his performance warrants it. He has to play everyday because apparently Johnson does not see him as a bench player as he does Ankiel, Bernadina and even Perez.

From Federal Baseball's Nats site:" Nats' skipper Davey Johnson did tell reporters that Corey Brown, (who was 2 for 4 with 2 RBI singles today and was 5 for 16 with a HR and a double so far this Spring, impressing everyone defensively in the last few days), was on the right track so far this year after dealing with health issues in 2011 in his first season in Washington following the trade that sent Josh Willingham to Oakland last winter. "'I told him if he keeps doing the things he's doing,'" Johnson told reporters including the Washington Post's Adam Kilgore, "'We won't have to look for a CFer.'"Maybe Rizzo knew what he was doing getting this guy and HRod for the Hammer.

Nice comments on Brown. Thanks to all who included them. I will not be taking the trip to Syracuse this summer but might just have to hit our other 3 teams. Have we ever had this much talent before?Great thing about Harrisburg besides what I hear is a great stadium, is the number of quality breweries nearby. Go Nats

I will have to get to Woodbridge more often this year, as well. However, they may not stay there more than half the year.As for Brown and the Willingham trade, I am trying to remember whether the A's will get a draft pick from the Twins for losing him in free agency. It seems that we did well in that trade, getting years of Rodriguez and Brown (even after a release) for a single year of the good ol' Hammer.And hey, Morse had a double today. Maybe this is a good labrum sign.+1/2St.

Anon @5:18 said:It works just like little league … you get moved to the team appropriate to your skill level.Brown is going to Syracuse as are the veterans on the reassignment list. He's reached AAA level.Rendon and Purke are just starting their minor league careers. Placing them Potomac is a promotion.You seem very sure of yourself, but note that Brown hasn't been optioned to a specific team and doesn't need to be optioned because he wasn't on the 40 man roster. I agree he's probably destined for Syracuse, but right now it's not at all clear that all of the players who were sent to minor league camp are headed to AAA. Some could go elsewhere, depending on how they perform during the rest of spring training, right? So my question remains — does the fact that Rendon and Purke were optioned to Potomac mean that a decision has been made to start them there, or are they possibly headed to Harrisburg (or maybe to Hagerstown) based on their performance for the rest of the spring? It seems to mean Brown **IS** the starting CF in Syracuse and he will be one of the first recalled if his performance warrants it.

It seems to mean Brown **IS** the starting CF in Syracuse and he will be one of the first recalled if his performance warrants it.That part of my last comment was a quote from Anon@5:21. I was going to comment on it too, and forgot I had copied it into my comment. Oops. Need a proofreader.It certainly seems plausible that Brown will play CF in Syracuse. As to whether he is one of the first recalled would seem to depend more on the play of Bernadina, Ankiel, and um, Harper, than anything else.

#acomak: Outfielder Corey Brown, who Nationals manager Davey Johnson singled out as "the guy that impressed me most," was also sent to minor league campAdd me to the list of those who was impressed. I think Corey has a higher ceiling than Rick Ankiel and surprised Davey didn't want to see more. Baseball is certainly a career of perseverance and Michael Morse is a testament to that.

Cory Brown was not going to make this club out of camp. He has, however proved to the brain trust that he deserves a chance to be an everyday center fielder at the AAA level. Since he has yet to prove himself at this level, this would be his big chance. Is he for real or a Ryan Langerhans? The next 10 weeks are huge for hom.

1/2 street – not sure Morse has problems with his labrum – it was reported to be a Lat (latisimus dorsi to be exact) problem which is a basic muscle issue and nothing to do with any joint. Nice to see Davey not pushing these guys and maybe even nicer is that they don't feel the need to "play through" the pain. Its a big trust issue that these guys can actually communicate with Davey. There are a huge number of players (especially pitchers) who play in pain and try and work through things only to have it get worse. See LaRoche last year with Riggleman. All those stressing over LaRoche this spring as he worked through his shoulder surgery and ankle sprain, Werth with his back spasms and Harper with his tight gastroc (calf) need to understand just how much effort a professional athlete exerts making difficult skills look easy. We will have other injuries, its part of the game. We just have to hope they are not critical and that Rizzo has enough reserves to handle whatever happens. So far, I am impressed.

sjm, I'm also thinking that just because they *said* Morse's is only a lat problem, doesn't mean it *is* only a lat problem. I'm no doctor, but I'm a little suspicious they had to use cortisone on merely a muscle strain.

Brown had three ABs w/ the Nats last fall, and I think never made the A's ML roster at all. So, however he might compare to Ankiel, he has no ML experience and (A) would not start ahead of Ankiel/Bernadina/Carroll and (B) would not improve sitting on the bench. I'm not certain exactly when Johnson envisions him in CF but if you told Brown he had an opportunity to compete for the starting job next Spring he'd probably say, "Good enuf for me."

NatsJack,Saw the bird's nest above the light tower and wondered if it was a pelican. Glad to know it was an owl. Also, saw you at the ballpark but was in nosebleed in front of the reporters section. Will also be there tomorrow and hope to track you down. I'm in heaven at spring training.

Theophilus, using your logic than Bryce Harper wouldn't start ahead of those outfielders.Yes, Brown is not a proven commodity but maybe you keep giving him some Spring Training at-bats and see if he can move ahead of Ankiel who is a non-roster invitee.Nobody says Brown would be the starter however he may grab the last bench spot.

NatsNut – you and I agree on two things. 1. the nationals have not been great at giving the public the entire story on various injuries. 2. In my 40 years of coaching, we never used a cortisone shot on a muscle injury, they were used 100% on joint type injuries, and as Natslady said in an early post, they are really hit or miss.

So for you wiser baseball minds than mine–why does Perez survive longer in major league camp than Brown? Because he's a righty? Because he's younger and has never played above A ball? Because "P" is later in the alphabet than "B"?

HHover said… So for you wiser baseball minds than mine–why does Perez survive longer in major league camp than Brown? Because he's a righty? Because he's younger and has never played above A ball? Because "P" is later in the alphabet than "B"? March 12, 2012 9:10 PM______________________________Eury Perez is a right-handed outfielder and Davey and Rizzo are giving him a few more days. He would be a HUGE long-shot but keep in mind, he is on the 40 man roster.His hit off of Verlander was impressive. They changed his swing to a more compact swing and supposedly he bulked up from super skinny to adding some muscle.And did I tell you he owns Justin Verlander?http://www.natsenquirer.com/2012/03/eury-perez-owns-justin-verlander-washington-nationals.html

Gonatsgo — I like Perez a Lot, too, but the kid idn't nearly ready for the show. May have looked good against Verlander one day but was totally outclassed in his two K's against Westbrook vs the Cards yesterday.

Happened to be at the Red Sox-Marlins game today when Ozzie got thrown out. He put on quite a show–he was ejected at first base and took a stroll all the way around the infield on his way out, accompanied by laughs and cheers from the Sox faithful. In Viera now and will catch the next five Nats games.

I think Brown reestablishes himself in the orgnization, which after a year of injuries he needed. Lets see what he can do now and Lord knows the one position you make this team on is the outfield so if he continues to impress a spot will open.

Section 222, the only true prospects left with the major league ST camp ARE three guys on the 40-man, Tyler Moore, Stephen Lombardozzi, and Eury Perez. Although they did option Rendon and Purke, they also optioned Carlos Rivero to Syracuse? That's TWO DIFFERENT MINOR league teams! One is A+ and the other is AAA? What does that tell you? They aren't' going to reassign Purke and Rendon to Hagerstown that would be a big demotion … unless they felt it was needed for their development. They aren't going to advance them to AA because that's an advanced league of major league ready players and they need to first master A ball. Its possible they will meet David Freitas and Blake Kelso there. Brian Goodwin seems destined for Hagerstown but he too might prove advanced enough for Potomac. The rest of the guys cut today (with the exception of Brown) were free agent pickups signed to minor league contracts who will likely fill out the rosters of Syracuse and Harrisburg. They will be assigned as needed given that they are for the most part, filler at this point.

Sec3, interesting question that will probably never be answered. I don't find many of the Anonymous posts to be much more than Periculum or haters. Sure, occasionally you find some decent Anonomi posts.

I have a question, which will probably never be answered, but, whiskeytangohotel: how many of the anonomi here are somebody's agent, rep, or the player his-own-self? Been wondering for a while now.Don't flatter yourself by thinking that any player, agent or rep is posting on this blog. They are unlikely to even be reading the blog, much less the comments. Maybe a family member might wander in here on occasion, but that too is doubtful.

Since we're speculating, maybe some of the above, and a few family members as well? What the hey, let's add in some current staffers and/or scouts, some disgruntled former staffers and/or scouts, some representatives of would-be team owners who didn't make the cut. Add in some fan bloggers for good measure, and maybe a an under cover journalist or two. None of that would surprise me. Then, of course, you've got the rest of us armchair GMs or just plain Nats fans.Sec 3, My Sofa said… I have a question, which will probably never be answered, but, whiskeytangohotel: how many of the anonomi here are somebody's agent, rep, or the player his-own-self? Been wondering for a while now. March 13, 2012 12:36 AM

Sec 3/1A.. I know the ticket office reads the site, not sure if they comment. I posted a comment here on the Take back the park initiative and how helpful they were. They sent me an email about my comment.

MicheleS said… Sec 3/1A.. I know the ticket office reads the site, not sure if they comment. I posted a comment here on the Take back the park initiative and how helpful they were. They sent me an email about my comment. Really? You don't post here with a Blogger profile. How could they possibly know your email address from reading a comment you made here?

Count me in for Gio as the opening day starter. Unless, I suppose, Strasburg somehow figures out how to keep it together for more than two innings in a row, something i dont see happening in the immediate future with that guy …

Just because Rendon and Purke have been sent to Potomac, that isn't always set in stone. Those guys are moved around also. So lets say Rendon goes down to the minor league camp and burns it up these last few weeks, he could easily end up in Harrisburg. And vice versa, a poor performance could drop him to Hagerstown